“Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” (TV-PG ) 8 p.m., ABC The latest attempt to make a TV series out of comic book heroes has less in common with “Arrow” or “Smallville” than it does with the spectacular roman candle of a series “Heroes,” which went from hit to flop in record speed.

“S.H.I.E.L.D.” could well have a similar fate, as the nearly 12 million who tuned into the premiere last week – no doubt drawn by the series' relation to the popular “Avengers” movies and the presence of Joss Whedon – discovered a show without much substance to back up the hype.

Whedon, creator of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” is great at putting clever lines in his character's mouths, and the “S.H.I.E.L.D.” folks are particularly good at poking fun at comic book clichés. Unfortunately, the story itself is not very good at avoiding those same clichés: People with superpowers always want to hide them. Multibillion-dollar government spy systems can be hacked by a teenage girl living in a van. Technology to solve a problem appears like magic. And when an elite squad of the finest people at their craft is being assembled, no one ever, ever wants to join it.

No amount of clever dialogue can paper over the enormous problems with this series: its silly premise, its purchased-in-bulk-at-Costco characters or its lack of meaningful drama.

Verdict: Skip that

WATCH THIS

“Latino Americans” (TV-PG) 8 p.m., PBS The final two hours of this documentary series air tonight. The first hour is California-centric, as it focuses on the rise of the Chicano identity and the farm-labor movement in the 1960s and '70s. The series' concluding hour looks at the present and the future, with an emphasis on the immigration debate.

“Sons of Anarchy” (TV-MA) 10 p.m., FX Fans of this often-excellent series have been restless the last season or so, as the story of the motorcycle gang has been riding around in circles. Last week's episode ended with an event that – barring another improbably annoying escape – should at last launch the series into its final act.

SKIP THAT

“Trophy Wife” (TV-PG) 9:30 p.m., ABC For now, we must put this comedy in the almost-but-not-quite category, one with potential that hasn't been realized. Malin Akerman is quite charming as Bradley Whitford's third wife, forced to deal with her predecessors (Marcia Gay Harden and Michaela Watkins) who are very much still in the picture. The tone and setting are good; we're just waiting for the funny to arrive.

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